Scrolling and twisting machine



`*Iuly 15, 1952 Filed April 29, 1949 R. LONG 2,603,269

SCROLLING AND TWISTING MACHINE l0 Sheets-Sheet l July 15, 1952 R. L. LONG 2,603,269

SCROLLING AND TWISTING MACHINE Filed April 29, 1949 1o sheets-sheet 2 Rober L, ong

- INVENTOR.

BY Z u A T'TRN E Y d N N July 15, 1952 R. l.. LONG SCROLLING AND TWISTING MACHINE 1U Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 29, 1949 Rober# L. Long INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY .Huy 15, 1952 R. L. LONG 2,603,269

I SCROLLING AND TWISTING MACHINE Filed April 29, 1949 l 1'0 Sheets-Sheet 4 f l'v A ajh ober. L Long .INI ENTOR.

.4 TTORNEY July l5, 1952 R. L LONG SCROLLING AND TWISTING MACHINE lO Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 29 1949 g n O VE, N T T A July 15, 1952 R. L.. LONG 2,603,269

SCROLL-ING AND TWISTING MACHINE Filed April 29, 1949 lO Sheets-Sheet 6 30g 2 2) 4J- 3/ 30? l s A Ww Z9 9 Z3 2f 2' 27 g5 26@ We Z5 Z' J Z nsvensma SwrrcM ACTUATING CYL- POWER SOURCE Rober L. Long JNVENTOR.

r A TTORNEY July 15, 1952 R. LONG scRoLLING AND TwIsTING MACHINE l0 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed April 29, 1949 Rober L. Long INVENTOR.

A TTORNE Y July 15, 1952 R. L. LONG SCROLLING AND TWISTING MACHINE lO Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed April 29, 1949 Rober# L. Long INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY July 5, E952 R. L.. LONG SCROLLING AND TWISTING MACHINE l0 Sheets-Sheei'I 9 Filed April 29, 1949 Robef L. Long INVENToR.

BY A Q .4 T TRNE Y Juy l5, i952 R. LONG scRoLLING AND TwIsTING MACHINE 10 Sheets-Sheet lO Filed April 29, 1949 Robert L. Long INVEIYTOR.

Patented July l5, 1952 2,603,269 SCROLLING AND TWISTING MACHINE Robert LfLong, Dallas, Tex., assigner to E. =C. Paige, Dallas, Tex.

Application April 29, 1949, Serial No. 90,293

v'Ihsinvention is concerned with a machine for simultaneously forming shapes on the ends off metal'stri'patwisting said strips intermediate the ends, and tolv provide'fo-r means to eject said strips from said machine after they have been scrolled and twisted.

My invention is primarily intended to provide a machine for automatically forming scrolls on the opposite'ends of metal strips, which are used in assembling and manufacturing ornamental door grilles, such as the vgrilles disclosedin United States Letters Patent No. 2,082,012, issued to Paul W. Leiiland. Since these grilles are made -up'of several diagonally disposed strips, which are pivoted or riveted at the places where they cross each other, it is necessary to provide 90 degree vtwists in the strips at the places Where they cross, so that they will present correspondingly flat surfaces for such connection.

The metal strips from which these ornamental vdoor grilles are made are lusually about one-half inch wide, about one-eighth of an'inch thick and `about three or four feet long. Most of these grilles are made of two different lengths of strips.

- Ordinarily the scrolls on the opposite ends of each stripA are Scrolled in opposite directions.

Her'etofore the scrolls and twists formed in the metal strips which go into the manufacture :of the aforementioned grilles have been made by hand, and required at least seven manual opera- :tions in order to complete one strip. No satisfactory Vmachine has .been provided for making theseA scrolls and twists. This invention is intended to provide such a machine.

The present invention automatically forms the scrolls in the opposite ends of the metal strips which go into the manufacture of said'grilles,`

twists the lstrips at' the desired places, and ejects thestrip's from the machine, in one continuous operation. The only manual labor required is that of one man to put the strips into the machine',` energize the machine and take them out after they havebeen formed and ejected.

It' is to be understood that scrolled and/or twisted strips may be made in this machine to be used for'other purposes other than in the manufacture of ornamental door grilles. For instance, strips might be scrolled for use in the manufacture of ornamental fenses, window guards, bannisters, columns, posts, barricades and for other purposes.

The machine with which this invention is concerned consists primarily of a coordinated and properlyv timed electrical and hydraulic system, which actuates and drives a chain drive system,

13 Claims. (Cl. 15S-Ji) iwhich in torn drives two sets of scrolling cams -to perform the scrolling operation; and simultaneously loperates a Icarrier bar with a plurality Aof twisting forks attachedthereto which perform the twisting operation on the material.

Other and further `objects of my invention will become apparent by reference to the drawings and'detailed specification.

Preferred embodiments of myV invention are shown in the Vattached drawings, in which:

Fig. I is a front elevational view of .the scrolling and twisting machine.

Fig. II is a rear elevational View. of the scrolling and twisting machine.

Fig. III is a top plan view of the .scrolling and twisting machine.

Fig. IV is a perspectiv'cview of the scrolling and twisting machine.

Fig. V is a perspective View of the driven .bevel gear and its driving bevel gear shown at the left end of Fig. I, and the mounting therefor, partially cut away.

Fig. VI is a fragmentary perspective view showing the hydraulic plunger valve, the hydraulic depressing cylinder, the carrier bar d'epressing yoke, carrier bar and the middle work twisting fork. Y

Fig. VII is a cross sectional elevation of the two scrolling cams and cam followers on one end of the scrolling and twisting machine, showing the mounting therefor.

Fig. VIII is a schematic representation of the electrical and hydraulic systems employed in my scrolling and twisting machine.

Fig. IX is a perspective view of the hydraulic drive cylinder with the rack gear attached therelto and the main drive sprocket pinion gear which drives .the main drive sprockets, with the housing for said gears being shown partially out away.

Fig. X is a. plan view of a typical scrolling cam employed in my scrolling and twisting machine, showing a strip of material positioned ltherein and in the stationary work holder forks.

Fig. XI is a cross sectional elevational View taken along the line XI-XI of Fig. III, showing [the work ejector rocker shaft, the work ejector rocker shaft actuating dog and the fixed work ejector dog.

Fig. XII is a fragmentary elevational View showing the work ejector rocker arm with the xed work ejector dog and the work ejector rocker shaft actuating dog ycarried thereby.

Fig. XIII is a cross sectional elevational view taken along the line XIII- XIII in Fig. III, showing one of the work ejector cams axed to the work ejector rocker shaft, and the work ejector pin, which is actuated by the work ejector cam.

Fig. XIV is a cross sectional elevation taken along the line XIV-XIV of Fig. III, showing the microswitch and the carrier bar elevating spring positioned on the carrier bar guide pin.

Fig. XV is a perspective view, partially sectionalized and partially cut away, showing a typical scrolling cam used in my machine and the mounting and driving sprocket therefor.

Fig. XVI is a cross-sectional elevational view taken along the line XVI-XVI of Fig. I, showing the carrier bar in lowered position.

Fig. XVII is a cross-sectional elevational view taken along the line XVI-XVI of Fig. I, show;- ing the carrier bar in raised position after the work has been twisted and before the yoke 31 has been raised.

Fig. XVIII is an enlarged cross-sectional elevational View showing the detailed construction and operation of one of the spring-loaded depressing ngers carried at the upper end of the yoke.

Fig. XIX is a cross-sectional elevational view taken along the line XVI-XVI of Fig. I, showing the carrier bar after it has been rotated by 90 degrees and before it is pushed outward to disengage the twisting forks from the work.

Fig. XX is a cross-sectional elevational view taken along the line XVI-XVI of Fig. I showing the carrier bar after it has been pushed outward to disengage the twisting forks from the work.

Numeral references are used to designate the various parts of the devices shown in the drawings, andlike numerals designate like parts in the various figures.

Numeral I designates the general structural frame for the machine, which supports and carries the various mechanisms thereof. The frame supports a top fiat table or bed plate 2. In the top of the table 2 are four cam grooves 3, which cam grooves assume the shape of scrolls. They may, however, be made in any shape desired. There are two of these cam grooves on each end of the table 2. It will be noted that the inner cam grooves are scrolled in opposite directions to each other and that the two outer cam grooves are scrolled in opposite directions to each other.

Adjacent to, and inside each of the scrolls of the scrolled cam grooves 3 are form blocks 4, the outer sides of which follow the contour of the inner sides of the cam grooves 3. These form blocks 4 are rigidly attached to the table 2.

The stationary work holder forks 6 (there being six of them shown in the embodiment of this invention) have a work holder slot 1 therein, which slots in each of said stationary work holder forks coincide with the slots in the other work holder forks, so that a strip of material may be placed sidewise therein and thus be held in place for twisting and scrolling. The stationary work holder forks 6 are rigidly mounted in spaced relation on the table 2 alternately between the work twisting fork clearance slots 8, which clearance slots are provided so that the work twisting forks 9 and the middle work twisting fork 9a, carried by the carrier bar Ill, may have clearance when the carrier bar IB is brought over and downward in the manner hereinafter described. Each of the work twisting forks 9 and 9a are rigidly attached to the carrier bar ID, and have a slot 9b therein, which is provided to receive the upper edge of the strip to be twisted, when the carrier bar II) is brought downward as hereinafter described.

The carrier bar guide pin I I. of which there is one on each end of the machine, slides through a bearing I2, which bearing I2 is attached to the carrier bar I0 by means of bolts I0a (Fig. XIV). There is a base block I3, at each end of the machine, rigidly attached to the guide pin II below the carrier bar, and said base block is secured to a driven bevel gear I1, at each end of the machine by means of bolts or welding or otherwise. As shown, in this embodiment of the invention. this is accomplished by means of the connecting block 89 which is secured to the base block I3 and the driven bevel gear I1 (Fig. XIV).

Positioned between the bearing I2 and the base block I3,'and around the guide pin II is the carrier bar elevating spring I4, which is depressed when carrier bar I0 is lowered vertically.

Each of the driven bevel gears I1, located at each end of the machine, has a shaft I6, which passes through the gear and is rotatively supported at its ends by the supporting frame members I5 and I8. As shown in Fig. V, a plurality of ball bearings 9E are placed on the shaft I6 between the gear I1 and the supporting bracket I5, so that the gear will turn easily and not wobble.

A protecting housing 5 is arranged about the gears at one end of the machine.

The driver gear I9 which articulates with the driven gear I1 at each end of the machine, is supported by the shaft 20, to which shaft is affixed the driving sprocket 22 (Fig. V). The shaft 20 extends through the driving sprocket 22, and is supported at its lower end by the bearing 2I, which bearing 2I is aiiixed to the frame I by means of bolts or otherwise.

The driving sprocket 22a is attached to the shaft 20a at the other end of the machine, and such shaft rotates in a bearing 2 Ia secured to the frame of the machine.

The driving chains 23 and 23a drive the sprockets 22 and 22a, respectively, and also drive cam follower roller driving sprockets 24a and 24e on one end of the machine and cam follower roller driving sprockets 24o and 24d on the other end of the machine.

As shown in Figs. III and IX, driving chain 23 extends around the main driving sprocket 3 la, around the inner side of the idler I I2, around the outer side of cam follower driving sprocket 24e, around the driving sprocket 22, around the inner side of the cam follower driving sprocket 24a, around the outer side of the idler III and back to the driving sprocket 3Ia.

Driving chain 23a extends around the main driving sprocket 3 I, around the inner side of the idler |09, around the driver sprocket 22a, around the outer side of the cam follower roller driving sprocket 24d, around the inner side of the cam follower roller driving sprocket 24h, and around the outer side of the idler III). It may be seen that the pair of cam follower roller driving sprockets 24e and 23dl on opposite ends of the machine will turn in the same direction; and that the pair of cam follower roller driving sprockets 24a and 24h will turn in the same direction, and in the opposite direction to the sprocket 24e and 24d.

Referring now to Fig. VII, which shows a detailed cross sectional view of the two typical cam follower rollers 30 on one end of the machine and their supporting mountings. Each cam follower roller 30 has a driving head shaft 25 which passes through the bearing support plate 21. The bearing support plate 21 is secured to the channel member 21a, which in turn is welded or otherwise attached to the machine frame I. The sprocket 24 is secured to the shaft 25 by means of a screw passing through the sprocket and through the shaft, and is rmly held in place by a nut 25d therebelow. Between the sprocket 24 Aand the supporting plate 21 is a ball bearing 29, and between the upper surface of the plate 2 and the cam follower driving head 28, is another ball bearing 26a, which bearings allow for the free rotation of the shaft 25 in response to the rotation of the sprocket 25.

Cam follower roller 30 has a shaft 39a which shaft is detachably secured to the cam follower roller slide block 29 by being screwed therein. The cam follower roller driving head 28, attached to the upper end of the shaft 25, has a slot 28a extending thereacross (Fig. XV) in which slot the cam follower roller slider block 29 is adapted to sldeably t.

When the head 28 is rotated by the rotation of sprocket 24, the cam follower roller supporting shaft 35a is enabled to follow the slot 3, in its irregular path, by reason of the slide block 29 sliding back and forth in the slot 23a.

All of the scrolling cams in this machine are constructed exactly as described above.

The pinion gear 33 (Fig. IX) is enclosed in the housing 34, which housing is mounted on the main frame I of the machine. The pinion gear 33 has a shaft 32 the upper end of which shaft is rotatively secured to the top of the' housing 34. The main drive sprockets 3| and 3Ia are rigidly secured to the lower end of shaft 32 so that they turn with the pinion gear 33.

The rack 35 articulates with the pinion gear 33, and is secured to the piston rod 62a by means of the bracket |94, which is made integral with the rack. The outer end of piston rod 62a extends through said bracket and is secured thereto by means of the nut IBB, on the outer end of the rod 62a.

The cylinder 62 is secured to the frame i and the piston rod 62a is free to move laterallyand carry the rack 35 with it when expelled from or retracted into the cylinder 62. The movement of the rack 35 turns the pinion gear 33 and thereby the main drive sprockets 3l and Sla.

The middle work twisting fork 9a is secured to the carrier bar I0 and has on eachuside thereof I a carrier bar depressing pin 36 (Fig. VI), which pin is rigidly secured thereto.

The yoke 3l is secured to the upper end of pis ton rod 92, which rod extends into the carrier bar hydraulic depressing cylinder 56. The yoke 3i has bifurcated arms 37a. Between each of said bifurcated arms is mounted a spring loaded depressing iinger 38, whichfinger is mounted by means of the pin 38a passing therethrough and. through the bifurcated arms. The cut-outs or slots i922 are provided in the carrier bar i9 to provide clearance for the arms 37d when the carrier bar is brought over in the man-ner hereinafter described.

When the piston rod 92 is pulled downward into lthe cylinder 56, it may be seen that the fingers 3B will engage the depressing pins S5 and Y will thus pull the middle twisting fork 9a and carrier bar I0 downward with it. When the middle twisting fork 9a and carrier bar I9 moves downward and is rotated forward, the depressing pin 33 rotates away from the depressing linger 33y and passes above it when the carrier bar is returned to normal starting position. When, the carrier bar I0 is returned to normal starting position, the yoke 31 moves upwardandthezpin 36 strikes the spring loaded depressing iinger 38 'and depresses it, allowing the pin to pass underneath the finger.

This operation is disclosed in detail in Figs. XVI to XX. After the carrier bar I0 has been pulled downward to theposition shown in Fig. XVI, and the twisting forks 9 and 9a have engaged the edge of the piece of material |31 held in the slots 'I of the holding forks 6, it is rotated;

forward by degrees to the position shown in Fig. XIX. As the carrier bar is rotatedfo'rward the depressing pins 36 leavethe spring loadeddepressing fingers 38, andthe yoke 31-is retracted to the limit of itsretraction. As the carrier bar rotates to the position shown in Fig. XIX, the work IB'I is twisted at spaced intervals intermediate its ends by the1twisting forks 9 and Sain engagement therewith. While `the carrier bar is being so rotated, pressure is exerted thereagainst by such rotation and it is held down by frictional engagement between the work |97 and the slots 9b in the twisting forks 9 and 3a. At the moment the machine is reversed in the manner hereinelsewhere vde scribed such frictional engagement is released and the springs I4 relax and push the carrier bar I0 outward on the pins I I to the position shown in Fig. XX, thus disengaging the twisting forks 9 and 9a from the work. The reversal of the machine rotates the'carrierbar I0 upward after such disengagement to the positionshown in Fig. XVII. It will be noted at this point that the yoke 31 is still retracted and that the depressing pins 3S are above the spring loaded depressing fingers 38. At the proper point in the cycle of operation, as hereinelsewhere described, and after the carrier bar has 'reached the position shown in Fig. XVII, the yoke 31 is againpushed upward. As the yoke 3'! moves upward the pins 3G strike the upper sides of the spring loaded` depressing fingers 38 and the depressing fingers arepushed inward against the Vflat springs H3 as shown in broken lines in Fig. XVIII. The springs II3 are secured to the backside of the yoke 37 and the upper end of each spring extends vthrough an openingl I4 between: the bifurcated arms 31a on each side of the yoke and each spring engages the backside of a depressing finger 38, as shown in Fig. XVIII. A stop I I5 is-provided near the upper end of each of the bifurcated arms 31a for the purpose of limiting'the inward movement of the upper end of the depressing fingers 38 about the pivots 38a. The depressing pins 36 depress the rngers 38 against the springs H3 and the pins 36 are allowed to pass underneath the fingers 38.

The relaxation of the springs H3 then returnsV the fingers 38 to theposition shown in full lines in Fig. XVIII. The yoke 31 and the `carrierbar I9 are then in normal startingV position, as shown in Fig. VI.

AA work ejector actuating pin 39 is disposed on one side of the carrier bar depressing yoke 31. rihe operation of this actuating pin will be described in detail hereinafter.

The plunger depressing arm 40 is mounted to hereinafter described.

The rod Referringnow to Figures I, XI, XII andXIII, the fixed work ejector actuating dog 4|a is secured to the rocker shaft 42 by means of the set screws |00. The rocker shaft 42 is pivotally mounted by the brackets 42a underneath the table 2, so that it isfree to rotate about its lorigitudinal axis. The work ejector rocker shaft actuating dog 4| is pivotally secured to the fixed dog 4|a by means of the pivot bolt 98, and said actuating dog 4| has a slot 99 out in the outer end thereof, which slot is adapted to fit the contour of rocker shaft 42.

There are a. series of work ejector cams 43 which are secured to the rocker shaft 42 by means of set screws |02 (Fig. XIII). Thereis one of these cams 43 disposed underneath each of the stationary work holder forks 6.

The work ejector pin 44 extends loosely through the hole 45, which hole extends through the table 2 and through the bottom of the stationary work holder forks 6. The pin 44 is free to move upward and downward in the work holder fork slot 1, which slot holds the strip of material being formed. The stationary work holder forks 6 are secured to the table 2 by means of the machine screws (Fig. XIII). l v

The inner ends of the work ejector cams 43 are rounded and are adapted to engage the lower end of the slideable pin 44.

The piston rod 92, which extends into the cylinder 56, is joined'to the carrier bar depressing yoke 31 by means of the connector Vmember 45 (Fig. XI).

The cylinder 56 is braced and held in place by the brace 41, which has a cut out 41a therein, to admit the passage therethrough of the plunger depressing arm 40, so that it may come in contact with the roller 94 at the top of the plunger valve rod 93 (Fig. V1).

Returning to the description of the ejector A mechanism, when the carrier bar l0, carried by the carrier bar I0, carried by the yoke 31 moves upward in response to the movement of piston rod 92 out of cylinder 56, at the end of a cycle of operation of the machine, the pin 39 on the side of the yoke 31 will engage the underside of the pivoted actuating dog 4| and will cause the rocker shaft 42 to turn about its longitudinal axis', carrying with it the work ejector cams 43. The outer ends of work ejector cams 43 will thus be caused to move upward and will push the pins 44 upward in the slots 1. Thus the strip of material being processed which is disposed in the slots 1 in the stationary work holder forks 6, will be ejected upward out of the slots 1.

As the yoke 31 continues to move upward, carrying with it the pin 39, the pin will pass the pivoted actuating dog 4|, and the actuating dogs 4| and 4|a will be allowed to fall back into normal operating position in readiness for the next cycle of operation of the machine.

When the machine is energized and the yoke is drawn downward by the piston rod 92 receding into the cylinder 56, the actuating pin 39 is allowed to pass the pivoted actuating dog 4| by reason of the fact that the pin 39 strikes the curved inner end of the dog 4| and causes it to pivot on the pivot bolt 98, thus raising up the outer end away from the rocker shaft 42, in the manner shown in dotted lines in Fig. XI. After the pin has passed the inner end of the dog 4|, the outer end of the dog will fall back in place over the rocker shaft 42.

The hydraulic supply tank 48 has a ller cap 48a. The supply tank 48 is filled with any suitable hydraulic fluid for the operation of the var-- ious hydraulic valves and cylinders used in this machine.

The hydraulic pump 50 is driven by the electric motor 83 through the shaft 84. The shaft 84 is coupled to the rotor of the hydraulic pump by means of the coupling 84a.

The electric motor 83 is mounted on the mounting 86, and the bracket 81 supports the hydraulic pump. A suitable power lead 83 is provided for the electric motor.

Referring now to Fig. VIII, the hydraulic line 49 leads from the supply tank 48 to the pump 50, and the hydraulic line 5| leads from the pump to the hydraulic solenoid valve 52. The hydraulic line 53 leads from the solenoid valve 52 to the pressure regulator 54, and the hydraulic line 55 conveys fluid from the pressure regulator to the carrier bar depressing cylinder 56. The hydraulic line'51 conveys fluid from the pressure regulator 54 to the plunger valve 58. Hydraulic line 59 leads from the plunger v alve 58 to the drive cylinder solenoid valve 60, and the hydraulic line 6| leads from the drive cylinder solenoid valve 60 to the Work side of the hydraulic drive cylinder 62.

The hydraulic line 65 conveys fluid from the hydraulic solenoid valve 60 to the return side of the drive cylinder 62; and the hydraulic line 66 leads from the hydraulic solenoid valve 60 to the supply tank 43.

The hydraulic line 61 leads from the solenoid valve 52 to the release side of the carrier bar depressing cylinder 56; and the hydraulic line 68 conveys fluid from. the carrier bar depressing cylinder to the supply tank. The hydraulic line 69 causes communication between the plunger valve 58 and the hydraulic supply tank. Hydraulic line 10 returns fluid from the hydraulic solenoid 52 to the supply tank.

Likewise, the electrical system for actuating driving and operating this machine may be best seen and understood by referring to the schematic drawing shown in Fig. VIII. The electrical conductor 1| leads from the power source to one side of the push button switch 12. The switch 12 is of the momentary contact type which may be closed by pressing on the button thereon, but when the pressure is released from the button, a spring therein causes the automatic opening of the switch.

The electrical conductor 13 leads from the other side of the switch 12 to the solenoid 52a, which solenoid actuates the conventional solenoid valve 52. The electrical conductor 14 leads from one side of the power source to one side of the microswitch 15.

The power source for the opera-tion of this machine consists of the usual commercial power of -120 volts A. C. (but it may be adapted for use of other sources of power).

The electrical line 15 leads from one side of the power source to the other side of the microswitch 16. The microswitch 16 is of the usual commercial type with an actuator arm or button 16a thereon. As used in this machine, it is normally closed until the base block I3 comes in contact with the actuating button 16a to open the circuit.

The electrical line 11 is connected to the same side of microswitch 16 as lead 14, and is connected to one side of the solenoid winding 52a; and the electrical line 18 leads from the other side of the solenoid back to the other side of the power source to complete the microswitch circuit. 'Ihe microswitch is thus connected in series with the power source and the solenoid winding 52a, and in parallel with switch l2.

The microswitch 'l5 is held open by pressure of one of the blocks I3 until the machine is energized by closing the momentary contact switch l2. The momentary closing of switch l2 is suticient to start the forward rotation of carrier bar ifi and thus lift the block I3 oi of the contact 'lea on microswitch l5 and close the microswitch. It remains closed until the carrier bar lil returns tostarting position, in the manner hereinafter described, and thereby again brings block I3 against the Contact ld thereon. The closing of microswitch 16 energizes the solenoid Valve 52, and thus eliminates the necessity of holding .the switch 'l2 closed during a cycle of-operation, and provides for the automatic de-energization of lvalve 52 at the end of a cycle of operation.

Electrical line '19 leads from one side of the power source to one side of the reversing switch ,3.0. The reversing switch S is a toggle switch with a toggle 80a. thereon. The electric line 8l leads from the other side of the reversing switch 85 to one side of the solenoid 56a.; and electric line 82 leads from the other side of the solenoid ta. back to the other side of the power source to complete the reversing switch circuit. n

The arm 155 is secured to the bracket |04 of the rack 35, and the outer end of piston rod 52a,

and is -held in place thereto by nut |36; and said arm extends over` the gear housing 34 (see Figs. ill and 1X) and is connected to the inner end of the lreversing switch tripping rod 63.

Referring again to Fig. VII the rod 53 has two dogs thereon, 511 and ea, which are adapted to come in contact with the toggle 89d on the toggle switch Si), as the rod moves laterally in response to movement of the rack 35. The tube 8l, which is mounted to the main frame l, is provided as a support for the reversing switch rod 63. The outer end of rod d3 ts loosely into the tube 9|, so that it may slide back and forth therein in its lateral movement.

The carrier bar depressing cylinder 5t is mounted to and supported by the mounting brace il which mounting brace l/i'i is secured tothe main frame I, and is Welded to the cap 95 for cylinder 55. The plunger valve 58 -is mounted to the cap Q5 by means of bracket mounting 58a (Figs. I and VI).

In Fig. X is shown a fragmentary View, partially diagrammatical, which `shows a metal strip, in dotted lines, in position in one of the scrolling cams, and in the stationary holding forks 5. As shown, it is placed edgewise in the slots l between the cam follower roller 55 and the upper side of the form block 4.

The forni block ,4 is raised from the table, and is adjacent to the inside of the scroll-shaped slot 3. The cam follower roller is shown at the top in dotted lines before it begins its rotation around the groove 3. Before the rotation is started, the metal strip i'l is straight and extends outwardly, as shown by dotted lines. When the cam follower roller starts around the groove 3 toward the position in which it is shown in solid lines, it presses the metal strip li'l against the form block 4 and thus lforms the end of the metal strip into ya scroll. The slots 3b in the twisting forks 9 embrace the edge of the strip E01 when the carrier bar le comes down, the operation of which will be fully explained hereinafter, and when the carrier bar comes over in its arcuate movement, the strip i6? is twisted to form twists therein, as is indicated by thenumeral Hi8.v

This invention may be more clearly disclosed and understood by explaining in detail its operation and function in orderly sequence, .which description follows:

Tc place the machine in operation, it ,of course must be connected to a suitable power supply, which starts the electric motor 83 and the hydraulic pump 5e.

The plug .95, which provides `electrical power to the .solenoids is also plugged into a suitable power source. A complete cycle of operation of this machine may be best described and .understood by referring to Fig. VIII, which shows a schematic layout of the electrical and hydraulic system for the voperation of this machine.

rEhe momentary contact switch'l2 is energized .by pressing the button thereon, which places ythe machine Vin operation. This switch is only momentarily closed, but it energizes the solenoid 52a which operates'the solenoid valve 52.

Referring to Fis. XIV, while the machine is out of operation and before switch 12 has been pressed, guide pin base block i3 presses down against the contact 15a, ofthe microswitch 'land thus holds the switch open. This switch is in parallel with the momentary contact switch 12. It will v.Cause the energizing circuit for the relay `52a to be closed when the pressure is released from the Contact 16a, thus closing the switch.

When the solenoid 52a has actuated the .solenoid valve 52, in the manner described above, hydraulic fluid, which comes from the supply tank 48 and through pump 5| is allowed to ow through the solenoid valve into line 53, and thence through the pressure regulator 54. This hydraulic `fluid is under pressure because it flows through the pressure regulator 54.

The opening of the solenoid valve 52 allows hydraulic uid under pressure to ow through line 53 and pressure regulator 54 to the upper part of depressing cylinder 55 .through 1ine55. This causes the piston rod 92 to be drawn into the cylinder `and pulls the yoke 31 downward with it. Thedogs (Fig. VI) on either side of the yoke `3l engage the pins 36 on either side of the middle work twisting fork 5a, and thus pulls the carrier bar l0 rdown with it. VThe metal strips to'be scrolled' and twisted have already been placed edgewise in the slots 'I of the work holder fork 6. When the carrier bar I0 is pulled downward, the slots 9b engage the upper edge of the strip of material being worked. Also, when the carrier bar Il) is pulled downward, the bearings I2 slide downward on the carrier bar guide pins Il and depress the springs I4 (Figs. V and XIV).

Referring back to Fig. VIII, after the hydraulic fluid has passed through the pressure regulator 54, it goes into a split line, one line 55 entering rthe top port of the carrier bar depressing cylinder andthe other line 5l entering the top port of the plunger `valve v58. The plunger valve 58 is ordinarily closed, until opened in the manner which will be hereinafter described. The plunger valve is closed when the plunger 93 is in extended position. When the yoke 37 is pulled downward, as described above, the lateral projection e of the arm comes in contact with the roller 94 and pushes downward on the plunger 93 of valve 58, which opens the Valve and the hydraulic iiuid under pressure is permitted to flow through the valver and through line 59 into the solenoid valve 60.

The solenoid valve 60 selects the direction for the hydraulic fluid to flow through the actuating cylinderBZ'. Thevalve 60 is so set that the iiuid 1 l rst comes out through line 6I and forces the piston rod 62a outward. This carries with it the rack 35, which causes the rotation of the main driving pinion gear 33, which in turn, through shaft 32, causes the drive sprockets 3I and 3Ia torotate.

Through means of the chains 23 and 23a the scrolling cams on each end of the machine are rotated in opposite directions, and the drive bevel gears I9 on each end of the machine are caused to turn and rotate the driven bevel gears I1.

The operation of one of the scrolling cams will be best understood by referring to the illustration shown in Fig. XV, which is typical of all four of the cams used on this machine. The chain 23 will cause the sprocket 24 to turn, which in turn causes the driving head 28 to rotate. The shaft a, supporting the cam follower roller 30, follows the slot 3 as the head 28 rotates. The sliding block 29 is slideably positioned in the groove 28av in the top of the head 28, and as the shaft 30a follows the contour of the groove 3, the end of the sliding block 29 on which the cam follower roller 30 is mounted is permitted to vary its distance from the central point of the head 28 and thus the cam follower roller is allowed to follow the outer contour of the forming block 4. The strip of material being scrolled is forced between the cam follower roller 30 and the forming block 4, and is thusmade into a scroll, which has the contour of the outer side of the forming block 4.

At the same time that the scrolling operation is taking place, as explained, the carrier bar I0 is being brought over in an arc, to perform the twisting operation. The chains 23 andand 23a are wrapped around the sprockets 22 at either end of the machine. When the rack is moved by the expulsion of the piston rod 62a from cylinder 62, thus turning the sprockets and the chains, the chains turn the bevel gear driving sprockets 22, which in turn rotate the drive lbevel gears I9 and thus rotate the driven bevel gears I1. Each of the driven bevel gears I1 has a block I3 attached thereto, which connects them with the gudepins II .and the carrier bar I0. As the driven bevel gears I1 are caused to rotate in the same direction in the manner above described, they will carry with them the carrier bar III and will cause it to rotate about the center of the driven bevel gear shaft. The carrier bar I0 will thus be rotated by 90 degrees. The strip of material being scrolled and twisted, having been previously placed edgewise in the slots 1 of the stationary work holder fork 6, and having been engaged by the slots 9b in the twisting forks 9 and 9a when the carrier bar I0 was pulled downward, willbe twisted by 90 degrees at the -point where it is engaged bythe twisting forks 9 and 9a.

When the carrier bar I0 has reached the end of its 90 degree rotation, the dog 64 on the arm 63, which arm is carried by.the piston rod 62a, strikes the toggle 80a on the reversing switch 80, and opens the switch, thus de-energizing the ksolenoid a.

When the piston rod 62a is withdrawn into the cylinder 62, in the manner hereinafter described, the dog 64a will strike the toggle on switch 80 and close it again, thus energizing the solenoid 60a and placing it again in position for operation.

' The solenoid 60a is normally energized, except when de-energized by opening switch 80.

When the solenoid 60a is de-energized, the flow of hydraulic fluid through the solenoid valve 60 is reversed and now it flows through line 65 into the opposite end of the actuating cylinder 62. This causes the piston rod 62a to be withdrawn into the cylinder, and thus reverses the movement of the rack 35 and the rotation of the various components driven by it. During the forward and downward rotation of the carrier bar I0 in the manner hereinelsewhere described, the frictional engagement of the twisting forks 9 and 9a with the strip of material engaged thereby holds the carrier bar I0 down on the guide pins II againstv the tension of the springs I4, by reason of the twisting strain between the work and the slots in the twisting forks by the forward rotation of the carrier bar. At the moment the arcuate movement of the carrier bar is reversed, this frictional pressure is relieved and the carrier bar is then pushed outward along the guide pins II to the outer ends of the guide pins by the relaxing of the springs I4 to the position shown in Fig. XX.

The reversal of direction of rotation of the driven bevel gears I1 will return the carrier bar I0 to its original vertical position, and the cam follower rollers are returned to their original starting positions in the slots 3.

As the carrier bar guide pin blocks I3 shift back to vertical position, one of them contacts the contact 16a on the microswitch 16 which opens the microswitch and de-'energizes the solenoid 52a, which causes a reversal of the fluid ilow in solenoid valve 52. The hydraulic fluid is now under low pressure, since it is not going through the pressure regulator, and enters the bottom port of the depressing cylinder 56 through the line G1, which causes the piston rod 92 to move upward, and at the same time the hydraulic fluid may flow out through the line 58 and return to the supply tank.

As the piston rod 92 starts upward, the arm 40 is lifted, thus permitting the plunger 93 of plunger valve 56 to return to its outer extremity, which shuts off the flow of hydraulic fluid to solenoid valve 60, thereby stopping the drive system.

The piston rod 92, thus moving upward, carries with it the yoke 31 and the pin 39 thereon strikes the bottom edge of the dog 4I, (Fig. XI) causing the dog 4I to rotate the shaft 42, to which are attached the cams 43. The cams 43 in turn strike the pins 44, causing them to push the strip of material, which has been scrolled and twisted, out of slots 1 in the work holder forks 6. At the same time the spring loaded depressing finger 38 has gone past and above the carrier bar depressing pin 35, and the yoke 31 again is in position engaging the pin 36, and the machine is in readiness for another cycle of operation.

The only work required in order to perform the aforedescribed cycle of operation is for the operator to put a strip of material in the machine, energize the switch 12 and take the strip of material out of the machine. One operator can do this work.

Only two of the cam follower rollers 30 are in operation at the same time. Either the two outer scrolling cams are in operation at the same time or the two inner ones are in operation. This adapts the machine to make two different lengths of scrolled and twisted strips. The cam follower rollers are interchangeable; that is, they may be changed from either the outer cams to the inner cams or vice versa by merely unscrewing them from the slide block 29 and screwing it into the slide block of the scrolling cam to which it is desired to be changed. Likewise, one or all of the cams may be taken out of scrolling operation by merely removing the cam follower roller therefrom. In this way the machine may be adapted to scroll only one end of a strip of material; placed therein; or it may be adapted to merely'make twists in material and notrscroll or shape it.

Modifications and changes may be made in this machine and still not depart from the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For instance, the machine may be adapted for merely scrolling or shaping a strip of material without twisting it by vremoving the work twisting forks and 9a from the carrier bar il?, or by adjusting them so that they will not engage the edge of the material to be worked. Also, the scrolling cams may be placed at any desired distance apart, so that this machine may be adapted to scroll the ends of any length of strip.

VIt is to be understood that the `drawings and descriptions herein merely illustrate and describe one embodiment of this invention, and that other and further modifications can be made thereof and still remain within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: Y

l. In a device of the class described, one or more shape forming members adapted to shape the opposite ends of a strip of material placed therein; a pluralityof holding members adapted to hold a strip of material in place in said forming members; a horizontally disposed member rotatably mounted above said forming members and above said holding members; a plurality of spaced holding Ymembers carried by said horizontally disposed member, and adapted to engage said strip of material and to twist it when the horizontally disposed member is pulled downward and rotated in an arc; means for pulling said horizontally disposed member downward in position for said holding members carried thereby to engage the edge of the piece of material; and means for actuating said forming members and said horizontally disposed member in different planes, whereby the opposite ends of a strip of material being worked in said machine may be shaped, and the intermediate portion thereof is twisted about its longitudinal axis at spaced intervals.

In a device of the class described, a plurality of scroll forming members adapted to scroll the ends of a strip ofmaterial placed therein, each said forming member having a cam follower roller and a forming block between which may be placed edgewise the strip of material; a plurality of holding members adapted to hold a strip of material in place between the cam follower rollery and the forming block in said forming members; a horizontally disposed member rotatably mounted above said forming members and above said holding members; a plurality of spaced bifurcated members carried by said horizontally disposed member and adapted to engage said strip of material when the horizontally disposed member is pulled downward and to twist the strip of material when the horizontally disposed member is rotated in an arc; means for pulling the horizontally disposed member downward to cause engagement of the piece of material. by said bifurcated members; and means for rotating said rollers and the said horizontally disposed member in their respective planes; and means for returning said horizontally disposed member and the cam follower roller to starting position after the material has been scrolled and twisted.

3. In a device of the class described, a plurality of scroll forming members adapted to receive and scroll the ends of a strip of material placed therein; a plurality of holding members adapted to hold` a' strip of material in vplace in said forming members; a horizontally disposed member rotatably mounted .above said forming members andabove said holdingV members; za plurality of spaced twisting forks carried by said horizontally disposed member, and adapted to engage thesaid strip of materialand to twist it when the horizontally disposed memberis brought downward and rotated inran arc; means forY lowering the horizontally disposed member, `thereby causing engagementof the strip of material by said twisting forks; means for actuating said forming members and the said horizontally disposed member in different planes, so that the .piece of material being worked therein is scrolled on .its ends fand twisted about its longitudinal axis; means for actuating said forming members and said horizontally disposed member in opposite directions from the initial rotation and thereby returning the operating mechanism to normal starting position.

4. In a device of the class described, a plurality of scrolling members adapted to scrollr the opposite ends of a .strip of material placed therein;-a plurality of holding members adapted to hold a strip of material in place in said scrolling members; a horizontally disposed member rotatably mounted above said scrolling members and a-bove said holding members; a-plurality of is twisted about its horizontal axis at spaced inf tervals; means for pushing the horizontally disposed member Aoutward and thus disengaging lthe bifurcated members from said strip of material after it has been scrolled and twisted; means for reversing the movement of the scrolling members and the horizontally disposed member to return same to normal starting position. y

5. In a device of the character described, two pairs of scroll forming members, each such pair being adapted to scroll the opposite end of a strip of material placed therein, and each pair being adapted to scroll the ends of a diierent length of material and each such scroll forming member being adapted to interchangeably receive a roller member, whereby said scroll forming member maybe selectively put in scrollforming operation; a plurality of holding members adapted to hold strips of material in position in the Vscroll forming members; a horizontally disposed member rotatably disposed above all of said scroll forming` members and above said holding members; a plurality of spaced -bifurcated twisting members carried by said horizontally disposed membenand adapted to engage a strip of material ,placed in said scroll forming members; and means for actuating said scrolling members and said horizontally disposed member in different planes whereby the opposite ends vof a strip of material `being worked in said machine may be .scrolled and the intermediate portion thereof twisted about its horizontal axis at spaced intervals.

6. In a device of the class described, a plurality of scroll forming members each member being adapted to scroll the end of a strip of material placed therein when operated; a plurality of holding members adapted to hold a strip of material in place in said scroll forming members; a horizontally disposed member rotatably mounted above said scroll forming members and above said holding members; a plurality of spaced holding members carried by said horizontally disposed member and adapted to engage said strip of material and to twist it when the horizontally disposed member is pulled downward and rotated in an arc; means for pulling the horizontally disposed member downward; and common means for actuating said scroll forming members and rotating the said horizontally disposed member.

7. In a device of the class described, a plurality of scroll forming members each said member being adapted to scroll the end of a strip of material placed therein; a plurality of holding members adapted to hold a strip of material in place in said scroll forming members; a horizontally disposed member rotatably mounted above said scroll forming members and above said holding members; a plurality of spaced twisting forks carried by the horizontally disposed member and adapted to engage said strip of material when the horizontally disposed member is pulled downward, and to twist said strip of material when the horizontally disposed member is rotated in an arc; means for pulling the horizontally disposed member downward; means for actuating said scroll forming members and said horizontally disposed member in different planes so that the piece of material being worked therein is scrolled on its opposite ends and twisted about its horizontal ax1s.

8. In a device of the class described, a plurality of forming members each said member being adapted to scroll the end of a strip of material placed therein; a plurality of holding members adapted to hold a strip of material in place in said forming members, a horizontally disposed member rotatably mounted above said forming members and above said holding members; a plurality of spaced twistingforks carried by said horizontally disposed member and adapted to engage said strip of material; means for pulling the horizontally disposed member downward so that the twisting forks will engage the strip of material; means for actuating said forming members and the horizontally disposed member in different planes, so that the strip of material positioned therein is scrolled on opposite ends and twisted about its longitudinal axis; means for pushing the horizontally disposed member outward and thus disengaging the twisting forks from said strip of material, said means including a spring positioned at each end of said horizontally disposed member and between said member and the frame for said machine so that when the horizontally disposed member is pulled downward, the springs are depressed and when it is released the springs relax and push the horizontally disposed member outward.

9. In a device of the class described, a plurality of scroll forming members adapted to receive and scroll the ends of a strip of material placed therein, each of said forming members including a guide groove substantially in the shape of a scroll, with a forming block disposed therein and thereabove, and a cam follower roller detachably attached to a sliding block, with a shaft thereon extending through said guide groove, a rotating head with a groove therein, said sliding block being slidably disposed in said groove so that the cam follower roller may follow the irregular path of the aforesaid guide groove; a plurality of holdingr members adapted to hold a strip of material in place in said forming members; a horizontally disposed member rotatably mounted above said forming members and above said holding members; a plurality of spaced twisting forks carried by said horizontally disposed member, and adapted to engage the said strip of material and to twist it when the horizontally disposed member is brought downward and rotated in an arc; means for lowering the horizontally disposed member, thereby causing engagement of the strip of material by said twisting forks; means for actuating said forming members and said horizontally disposed member in different planes, so that the piece of material being worked therein is scrolled on its ends and twisted about its longitudinal axis; means for actuating said forming members and said horizontally disposed member in opposite directions from the initial rotation and thereby returning the operating mechanism to normal starting position.

10. In a device of the class described, a plurality of scroll forming members adapted to receive and scroll the ends of a strip of material placed therein; a plurality of holding members adapted to hold a strip of material in place in said forming members; a horizontally disposed member rotatably mounted above said forming members and above said holding member; a plurality of twisting forks carried by said horizontally disposed member and adapted to embrace said strip of material and to twist it -when the horizontally disposed member is brought downward and rotated in an arc; means for pulling the horizontally disposed member downward, said means including a yoke member attached to hydraulically controlled piston rod, which yoke member is adapted to engage one of the twisting forks on its movement downward and thus pull the horizontally disposed member downward -with it; means carried by said yoke for actuating mechanism for driving said forming members and said horizontally disposed member; and means for actuating said forming members and said horizontally disposed 4member in different planes, so that the piece of material being worked therein is scrolled on its ends and twisted about its horizontal axis; and means for actuating the said forming members and the said horizontally disposed member in opposite direction from the initial rotation, and thereby returning the machine to normal starting position.

11. Shaping mechanism for use in a machine of the class described, comprising a guide slot in the shape of a chosen design; a forming block following the contour of the slot; a rotatable head; a groove in said head; a slideable member disposed in said groove; a shaft carried by said slideable member and extended upward through said slot and adapted to follow the slot when the head is rotated; a roller member disposed on the outer end of said shaft and spaced from said forming block a suiiiclent distance to allow the insertion between said roller and said forming block of a piece of material to be shaped; and means for rotating said head.

l2. In a device of the class described, one or more shaping members adapted to shape the opposite ends of a strip of material placed therein;

a plurality of holding members adapted to hold a strip of material in place in said shaping members; a horizontally disposed member rotatably disposed above said shaping member; one or more engaging members disposed on the horizontally disposed member and being adapted to engage the edge of a piece of material held by the holding members when the horizontally disposed member is pulled downward; means for pulling said horizontally disposed member downward; and means for actuating said shaping members and the horizontally disposed member in their respective planes.

13. In a device of the class described; a table member; a plurality of holding members disposed on said table and adapted to receive and hold a strip of material placed therein; a horizontally disposed member rotatably disposed above said table; guide means slideably supported said horizontal member for guiding the horizontal member when pulled downward; one or more bifurcated members carried by said horizontally disposed member; means for pulling said horizontally disposed member downward in position for said bifurcated members carried thereby to engage the edge of the piece of material; and means for rotating said horizontally disposd member, whereby a piece of material engaged by said holding members may be twisted about its longitudinal axis at one or more places.

ROBERT L. LONG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this pa-tent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 83,523 Miller Oct. 27, 1868 107,305 Sugden Sept. 13, 1870 441,929 Buckley Dec. 2, 1-890 540,513 Polyblank June 4, 1895 654,373 Wikstrom July 24, 1900 681,334 McKibben Aug. 27, 1901 740,241 Coombs Sept. 29, 1903 796,685 Waybright Aug. 8, 1905 1,432,199 Nennan Oct. 17, 1922 1,496,801 Werner June 10, 1924 1,667,911 Van Veen May 1, 1928 1,968,010 Bailey July 31, 1934 1,957,395 Kirchner May l, 1934 2,119,399 Muschong May 31. 1938 2,128,620 Lyons Aug. 30, 1938 2,217,333 Dahlman Oct. 8, 1940 2,318,344 Urschel May 4, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 522,677 Great Britain Apr. 20, 1943 588,956

Great Britain June. 1947 

